Two of Australia’s leading sterile insect technique (SIT) research scientists, Prof Phil Taylor from Macquarie University, and Peter Crisp from SARDI, recently accompanied PHA’s Stuart Burgess on a visit to the new SIT blowfly facility on Kangaroo Island.

This world-first facility was established on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island to help eradicate sheep flystrike — a condition that costs the Australian sheep industry almost $300 million each year.

The SIT facility aims to breed and release millions of sterile sheep blowflies, aiming to eliminate sheep flystrike from the island over the next few years. The facility comprises 16 repurposed 40ft shipping containers, designed to function as a mobile SIT production unit tailored to the island’s needs.

Jointly funded by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), Australian Wool Innovation, Animal Health Australia (AHA), the SA Sheep Industry Fund, and the University of Adelaide, the pilot project offers an important opportunity to evaluate and refine SIT technology. The success of this pilot could pave the way for the development of similar custom SIT production facilities across Australia.

The Kangaroo Island facility was designed and manufactured in Adelaide and represents a major step forward in sustainable livestock management.